SEVEN months since it was rolled out, coronavirus disease (Covid-19) booster shot coverage in the Philippines remains low with no region in the country reaching more than 50 percent of their eligible population.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) show that merely 15,176,466 booster shots have been administered, or 19.43 percent of the total eligible individuals in the country.
"All regions report less than 50 percent booster coverages," said the DOH.
Having the closest number to 50 percent coverage is the National Capital Region (NCR), which has reached 4,274,089 individuals or 43.25 percent.
Completing the top 5 are Cordillera Administrative Region (25.05 percent), Central Luzon (24.32 percent), Ilocos Region (23.05 percent), and Calabarzon (22.06 percent).
Having less than 20 percent coverage are Cagayan Valley (18.80 percent), Northern Mindanao (13.85 percent), Western Visayas (13.52 percent), Davao Region (13.21 percent), Zamboanga Peninsula (13 percent), Central Visayas (12.94 percent), Caraga (11.42 percent), and Mimaropa (10.01 percent).
Reaching less than 10 percent booster coverage are Eastern Visayas (9.49 percent), Bicol Region (9.44 percent), Soccsksargen (8.85 percent), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (4.91 percent).
It was in December 2021 when the Philippine government began rolling out the booster shots for Covid-19.
Barmm has the lowest coverage of the primary vaccines.
This, as Barmm is the lone region in the country that has less than 50 percent fully vaccinated population.
Data show that Barmm only has 1,499,996 fully vaccinated individuals.
This is merely 45.87 percent of the 3,270,231 target Barmm population. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)